Blog Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) Wins Africa Food Prize 2023
PABRA was chosen from 496 nominees as the winner of a prestigious prize, recognizing contribution to improved food systems in Africa. With nominees from 47, PABRA was selected by a preeminent panel of judges with leadership experience in African agriculture.
Dar es Salaam, 7th September 2023: The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) has been honored with the prestigious Africa Food Prize, recognizing their exceptional leadership in the development of numerous bean varieties that improve farm productivity and profitability, and meet increasing consumer demand. The award was announced by Africa Food Prize Chairperson - former President of Tanzania - Jakaya Kikwete, during the Africa Food Systems Summit (AGRF), held in Tanzania.
PABRA has demonstrated unwavering commitment to improving nutrition and food security across Africa by harnessing the potential of beans, which are a vital source of plant-based proteins and micronutrients including iron and zinc, as well as providing many other vital nutrients. PABRA was recognized for its efforts in breeding new varieties and making them accessible to farmers across Africa. Their research and development efforts have generated positive impacts in the lives of numerous people, particularly in communities facing food insecurity and malnutrition.
To date, PABRA has released more than 650 improved bean varieties with a variety of adapted characteristics. Today, these varieties are grown by over 37 million smallholder farmers in Africa and consumed by more than 300 million people, significantly improving nutrition, health, and food security. As beans are most commonly grown by women, PABRA enable more women to earn stable incomes, and for their families to eat more nutritious ingredients.
Every year, the Africa Food Prize initiative calls for the nomination of outstanding individuals or organizations that are leading the way in changing the reality of farming in Africa.
Mr. Kikwete praised PABRA for its outstanding contribution to farm productivity, resilience and competitiveness on the African continent. He stated: "PABRA's dedication to bean development and its remarkable impact on nutrition through improved bean varieties and complementary technologies is commendable. Their work aligns perfectly with the goals of the Africa Food Prize, and I am delighted to announce them as the 2023 laureates."
The prize of USD $100,000 puts a spotlight on bold initiatives and technical innovations that can be replicated across the continent to create a new era of food security and economic opportunities for all Africans.
In accepting the award, Mr. Jean Claude Rubyogo - Director of PABRA, and Global Bean Program Leader at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT - expressed his gratitude and dedication to the cause, saying: “This award is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the entire PABRA team, including all the national research institutes, governments, implementing partners, funders, and all the smallholder farmers we serve.”
All nominations are reviewed using the Africa Food Prize criteria that assesses the program’s contribution to poverty reduction and nutrition security as well as the improvement of livelihoods through employment and job creation. The selection process also evaluates the potential of program scalability, replication and sustainability.
Mr. Rubyogo added that winning the Africa Food Prize is a significant moment for PABRA, having recently celebrated 25 years of bean research and development last year, and recently launching a movement to promote beans as a superfood. As beans are most commonly farmed by women, PABRA empowers women across the bean value chain, making this prize a recognition for women in agriculture and sustainable food systems.
About The Africa Food Prize
The Africa Food Prize is the prestigious annual award that recognizes outstanding individuals or organizations that are leading the effort to change the reality of farming in Africa.
The prize of USD $100,000 puts a spotlight on bold initiatives and technical innovations that can be replicated across the continent to create a new era of food security and economic opportunities for all Africans.
https://africafoodprize.org/
For details and any inquiries, please contact:
Patrick Githinji
Communications Officer, AGRA, [email protected]
and
Edith Mutui
Africa Communications, [email protected]
